@cairocene : The inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) was, without question, a historical milestone, but it was also something rarer: a feat of interdisciplinary design collaboration. Behind it was a dialogue between two pioneering Egyptian creatives, Mohamed Attia and Mohamed Fares, whose worlds of cinema and design converged to bring Egypt’s long-awaited grand opening to life.
The duo had previously collaborated on the Mummies’ Golden Parade, the historic procession that carried 22 royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to their new resting place at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, a project that achieved near-mythic status for its blend of cinematic grandeur and national pride.
Before GEM’s official debut, Alchemy, led by Chief Designer Mohamed Fares, had already left its mark on the museum’s halls with The King’s Feast during Cairo Food Week. True to his design language, Fares continues to blur the line between identity and modernity, from reviving the heritage interiors of TamaraHaus in Downtown Cairo to leading internationally acclaimed architectural and interior projects that range from lifestyle destinations to large-scale cultural revival efforts.
Mohamed Attia, meanwhile, is the architect-turned-production designer who helped define the visual language of modern Egyptian cinema. An award-winning art director and production designer, his credits include The Blue Elephant, Afrah El Qoba and Coco Chanel. His collaborations with Mohamed Khan, Yousry Nasrallah, Tarek Alarian, and Marwan Hamed have shaped how Egyptian storytelling looks and feels on screen.
For GEM’s opening, Alchemy Design Studio led the spatial and sensory experience, curating the architectural journey from arrival to farewell, while Attia, with his cinematic instinct, directed the stage and audience layout, turning the museum into a live set worthy of Egypt’s grandest cultural reveal.
In this exclusive interview with CairoScene, the duo shares sketches, behind-the-scenes footage, and a closer look at the creative process that made the Grand Egyptian Museum’s opening a performance in its own right.
For the full interview head to scenenow.com
